Missiology Through Scripture – Psalm 57:9

“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.” – Psalm 57:9

Concern for the nations is not historically perceived as a priority for OT Jews. While evangelism and missions were not central, verses like this confirm the growing of the kingdom was an important pillar of early Israel. The growth of faith was not through conquest or sending missionaries, but through an example of God’s faith in the lives of the elect. The God of Judaism was the Sovereign of the universe, and not simply the Jews. Importantly, God’s elect were always intended to be burdened by reaching the lost nations for God.

Here David sings praises the Lord amidst the nations. He does not ask to reach the people and the nations from the safety and comfort of Jerusalem, but in the presence of the people while standing on their soil. David knew the Gentile nations were not the elect, but that did not mean they were not to be worshipers of Yahweh. God’s elect always have been called to reach the lost, and will continue to be called until Christ returns. John Calvin said, “To proclaim the praises of God to such as are deaf, would be an absurdity much greater than singing them to the rocks and stones; it is therefore evident that the Gentiles are supposed to be brought to the knowledge of God when this declaration of his name is addressed to them.”[1] Reaching of the lost is not new to the NT. Global outreach did not begin with the Great Commission (Mat 28:18-20) or the spread of the new church (Acts 1:8). Reaching of the lost is central to the character and glory of God.

The modern church was built on the foundation of the elect in Israel. Our forefathers and modern Christians were created to leave the known and the comfortable to be among foreigners, in strange lands to share God’s name with them.

[1] John Calvin and James Anderson, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 366–367.

About Mike

Mike, 49, grew up in California and spent 38 years of his life there. He received an undergraduate degree in Political Science, graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary and is pursuing a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before accepting God’s call to fulltime missions, Mike worked in the California State Senate for 12 years. He became a Christian at the age of 20.
Mike was a Ruling Elder at Soaring Oaks Presbyterian Church(PCA) for seven years. While at Soaring Oaks, Mike served as the Director of the High School Youth Group, Sunday school teacher, and instructor of evangelism.
His cross-cultural missions experience includes five short term trips to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Peru (Lima and Cusco) through Mission to the World (MTW). He has volunteered with World Relief by teaching and counseling international refugees. Mike has also attended cross-cultural church planting conferences in New York and Orlando and completed the Perspectives course on the World Christian Movement.
He attended Bible Study Fellowship for two years. He is a certified instructor through Evangelism Explosion and is a certified trainer of the Darkness to Light child sexual abuse prevention program. He completed MTW‘s Disaster Response Training. Mike is an experienced speaker and author. Over 70 of Mike's articles on missions have been published and he has written three books. He is a trained and experienced mentor, discipler, leader and a passionate teacher of small groups and Bible studies.
Mike received an undergraduate degree in Political Science, graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before accepting God’s call to fulltime missions, Mike was a Ruling Elder, Youth Group Leader, adult Sunday school teacher and evangelism instructor at Soaring Oaks Presbyterian Church in Elk Grove, CA. Mike is an experienced speaker and author. Over 70 of Mike's articles on missions have been published and he has written three books. He is a trained and experienced mentor, discipler, leader and a passionate teacher of small groups and Bible studies.
From 2007 to 2017 Mike served as a fulltime missionary for MTW. Mike served as Team Leader, Church Planter, and Seminary Professor. Mike and his wife Erin served in Honduras in Central America and Equatorial Guinea in Central Africa. Mike currently serves as the Director of the MTW West Coast Hub where he trains and mentors new missionaries from CA, AZ, & NV. Mike is also busy writing his next book.